Water still



- (kt. 2,1928. Y J 1,686,418 V EL'Y. OLIVER WATER STILL Original I'il ed Dec. 29, 1923 s Sheets-Sheet 1 E. V. OLIVER WATER STILL Original Filed Dec. 29, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 E. V. OLIVER Oct. 2, ma

WATER STILL Original Filed Dec. 29, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented on. 2, 192a UNJTJEB stares JERNON 'V. EOL'TVER, L SE PASADENA, GALIFQRNJA.

warns STILL.

Application fi1ediDecember29, 1923, Serial No. 683,358. 'Renewed June 14, 1928.

This invention relates 'to improvements in water stills and more particularly to the do mest'ic type such as constitu'te the subject matter of my co-pending applications, filed December l, 1923,, Serial Nos. 678,450 and 678,351, and the ,presentinven'tion relates more specifically :to the condenser of such .a

.stilltand to certain correlated features of the condenser ,and the receiver, and "in this connection,in order to render clear the meaning .ofthe terms employed, .itmay be stated that in the co-pending applications the still, in each instance, comprises a generator in which the water is convertedinto steam, a condenser in which the steam is condensed, and receiver which 'isinterposed between 'th'egeneralter and the condenser and to which is de Lliveredthewaterof condensation, I

The primary objectof the present invention is to provide a condenser-so constructed that a more thorough circulation of the cooling .Water may be had thereby rendering the ap- .paratus' .more elficiient .and considerably exeanmg lthcipr'ocess of dist'ijll h- Anotherobj'e'ct o'fthe invention is to provide for circulation of the cooling water in such manner as to bring about'heat exchange between the steamand v vater in the most efdect'nre manner. v

In the accompanylng drawings:

Figure 1 .is a Vertical 'liame'trlo sectional view through one iormof condensing and receiving apparatus embodying the invention;

FigureQIQ isva top plan View of the condensing apparatus;

'FigureB isiaitop plan yiew of-the receivingapparatus. y v

Figure '4 ,is;a :top plan View of a modified form of the condensing apparatus.

As before pointed out, each of the stills disclosed 'in my saidco-pending applications ,comprisesa generator in which the water is converted into steam, -;and inasmuch as the ,generator constitutes no part of the ,present inyentionu onlya portion thereof isillustrated in:thedrawingsandis indicated by the numieral 1; Upon the casing or shellof the generatomthere ,is, supported arec'eiver which is indicated jin genera'l bythe'numeral 2 and which will presently The more specifically d scribed. I i Y i The condenser:embodying {the invention ,is indicated 'imgeneral thenumeral3 and the same is supported upon the cas ng of the reteeiver Thecondenser 3 comprises a -:wall

4: which, in th at embodimentof the invention "illustrated in Figureslfl and ofthe draw- "ings,isofzcylindrical l orm,the casing or shell of the condenserbeing open at its top as clearly shown n l il'glll 1 of the drawings and the wall 4 beingsupported by an'annular bottom 5 which surrounds a cylindrical wall '6 having a'd'epending lower portion 7 which extends downwardly beneath the 7 annular bottom 5-andis 'providedwith an'o-li-setflange 8 adapting it to be removably fitted upon the top ofzthe receiver cas'ing'Q. A cylindrical :wall "9 is arranged concentrically with relation to the wall-6 and is surrounded by the I latter wall' and supported by an annular top wall 10 which extends-between the said walls bland 9. llhe-spacefbetween the walls 4; and 6 constitutes a cooling chamber which is in- :dicated by the numeral 11, and the space between the wallet-and 9jconstitutes a condensing chamber indicated by the numeral 12' For the escape of noxious gases, vent pipes 113 are arranged upon the top wall lO-of the condensingchamber '12-and it willbeobserved "by reference 'to {Figure it that the said wall 10 is located in-a plane somewhat'below the open top of the shell defined by-the wall '4, the Vent tubes 18 extending upwardly from thesaid wall 10 and likewise terminating-at 7 their open upper-ends below the plane of the cooling chamber 17 which is defined by the said wall 9, itbeing evident *that the wall?) is common to both ,the condensing chamber 12' .and the cooling'chamber 17. The upper end of the conical shell -1'6 term'inates at a point below the plane of the top wall 10 of the condensing'chamber 12 so that water filling the chambers 11 and. 17 will surround and cover all'three walls of the said condensing chamber 12, this chamber being-open at its bottom to communicate with the space above the receiver 2.

Arranged withinthe c'oo'ling chamber 17 'is aJcirculating chamber-which is indicated in general by the numeral 18 and which comprlses, in that-form of thelnventlon shown 1n Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, a cylindrical shell 19 which is disposed at its lower portion to fit aboutthe upper portion or apex of the conical shell 16 constituting the conv densing chamber 15, the lower edge of the wall of the shell 19 being suitably united in a water-tight manner to the'outer side of the wall of the said shell 16. The shell 19 is open at its top and its upper end terminates in a plane above theplane of the top wall ofthe condensing chamber 12 and below the plane of the open top of the shell 4. v Openings 20 are formed in the wall of the shell 19 immediately above the uncture of the wall with the wall of the shell 16 and serve a purpose to be presently explained. v

I In order that water or other cooling fluid may be supplied to the condenser, an annular pipe 21 is arranged within the bottom of i the cooling chamber 11 and is provided in its upper side with perforations 22 through which water may be discharged, water being supplied to the said pipe by a supply pipe 23 leading from any suitable source of supply and connected to the said pipe 21 through the wall of the shell 4, a cut-off valve 24 being interposed in the said pipe 23. In order that the pipe 21 may be flushed when occasion requires, and thus cleared of any sediment which may accumulate therein, the said pipe is preferably provided at its side opposite the side i at which the pipe 23is connected, with an up standing nipple 25 into which is removably fitted a closure plug 26, the plug 26 being designed to be removed when the pipeis to be flushed. I 1

An overflow pipe 27 has its inlet end fitted through the wall of the circulating chamber 18 and preferably downturned as indicated by the numeral 28, and this pipe extends di a metrically across the open upper portion of I water overflowing from the con denser through the pipe 27 will be delivered through. the pipe 31 to the said generator where it will be converted into steam. It is preferable to provide a second overflowpipe indicated by the numeral. 32 which pipe likew se leads at its intake end through the wall of the circulating chamber 18 and at its other end is led through the wall of the shell 41, this pipe being provided with a cut-off valve 33 which may be adjusted to permit of overflow of water from the circulating chamber 18 to a suitable re- I ceptacle such as theordinary kitchensink.

The receiver 2 heretofore referred to does I not differ materially from the receivers of the stills shown in my said co-pending applications, except 1n one respect which will now be explained. The recelver comprises a cylindrical shell 34 open at its top and bottom and communicating at its bottom with the generator 1 to receive the steam generated therein and open at its top to communicate with the open bottom of the condenser." Arranged within the shell 34; is a receiving pan 35 which is of inverted conical form and comparatively shallow, and upstanding from the bottom of this pan and opening theretlirough are short tubes-36 through which steam generated in the generator 1 may issue and bedischarged into the upper portion of the receiver2 and the lower portion of the condenser. A? distilled water outlet pipe 37 leads from the extreme lower portion of the pan 35 and through the wall of the shell 34 ofthe receiver and serves to deliver the distilled water to any suitable receptacle.

It will now be evident that when water is supplied through the pipe 23, it will rise in the cooling chamber 11 and overflow'into the cooling chamber 17 thus cooling the walls of the condensing chamber 12. The water can only leave the chamber 17 by wayof the openings 20 in the lower. portion of the circulating chamber 18 because of the fact that the upper end of this chamber is located in a plane above the overflow pipes 27 and 32. Inasmuch as the intake ends of the pipes 27 and 32 are located within the circulating chamber 18, the,

water supplied to the condenser can only leave through the cooling chamber 11,downwardly through the cooling chamber 17, and finally up w ardly through the circulating chamber 18, Therefore, the water supplied to the condenser is caused to circulate over the surfaces of the walls of the condensing chambers 12 and 15 in a manner to most effectually cool the walls and thereby most effectually condense" the steam which is delivered into the chambers 12' and 15 through the tubes 36 upon the receiving pan 35. The water, condensing upon.

the walls of the condensing chambers 12 and 15 will of course drip from thesewalls into the said pan 35 and will be'delive'red from the pan by way of the pipe 37.

The foregoing description has been directed more particularly to the form of the invention shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings and by reference to Figure. 4

it will be observed that this form is identical.

with the form previously described except that the chamber 15 is of'pyramidal form the condenser after having passed upwardly and the shells of the generator, receiver, and

condenser are therefore of rectangular form;

Likewise in this modified form, the vent pipes 38 rise from the top or ridge of the condens-' ing chamber to a point above the water level in the condenser.

Parts illustrated in Figure 4 of the draw-- ings and corresponding to those illustrated in the other ffigures of the drawings andparticul'arly Fi'gure'Q, are indicated by like reference numerals with the addition'of the sutfix a. As previously stated, the modified structure shown in Figure '4 is "substantially identical with Figures '1, 2 and3 except that the appa- 'ratus is o't' general rectangular torm'instead of cylindrical so that Figure 1 0t the-drawin'gs corresponds in"practically every detail with what is shown in Figure 4, when Fig ure 4 is viewed in section.

Tt "will "be noted that certain of the vent tubes 36 are arranged in a'circula'r series immediately beneath. the chamber 12 and that the other tubes are distributed over the surface of the pan within this circle.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimedas -new "is: I

1. stilt-condenser comprising an upwardly tapered condensing chamber, a wall surrounding the'said chamber and constitut- "ing, in combination with the wallet the condensing chamber, a cooling Water chamber,

- means for supplying water to the cooling water chamber, and means for e'tiectin circulation of "the water in an upward c'irection over the'sur'face of the wall of the con- 'densing chamber, the said means comprising (lensing chamber is located, the condensing chamber being open at its bottom and constituting the bottom of the cooling water cham'ber withinwhich it is located,a cooling water circulating chamber surrounding and enclosingthe upper portion of the condensing chamber and 'having'openings in its'wall near itsbottom, means for supplying water to the cooling water chamber exteriorly of the circulatingchaniber whereby the water will flow downwardly about the circulating chamber "and "thence u wardly along the lower portion of the wa l of the condensing chamber, through the said openings in the wall of the circulating chamber, and upwardly along the upper portion of the wall of the condensing chamber, and an overflow leading from the interior of the circulating chamber.

3. A still condenser comprising an upwardly tapered condensing chamber open at its bottom, a second condensing chamber surrounding the first mentioned chamber and likewise open at its bottom, the lowerportion of the wall of the first mentioned condensing chamber being united to the lower portion of the inner Wall of the second mentionedcondensing chamber whereby to provide between the chambers a cooling water chamber closed at its bottom and open at its top, acooling water chamber surrounding the second mentloned condensing chamber,

and means tor supplying wa ter to the last mentioned cooling water chamber whereby to overflow into the first mentioned cooling water chamber, the said means comprising a continuous pipe extending about the bottom of the last "mentioned cooling water chamber, and a water supply pipe in comn unication therewith, the first mentioned pipe having outlet openings for the water supply thereto; Y 4. A still condenser comprising an up wardly tapered condensingchamber open at its bottom, a'second condensing chamber surrounding the first mentioned chamber and likewise open at its bottom, the lower portion of the wall of the first mentioned con densing chamber being united to the lower portion otthe inner wall of the second 'mentioned condensing chamber whereby to provide between the chambers-a. cooling waiter chamber closed at its bottom and open at its "top, a cooling water-chamber surrounding the second mentioned condensing chamber, means for supplying water {to the last inentioned cooling waterchamber whereby to y overflow into the first mentioned cooling water chamber, the said means comprising a continuous pipe extending about the bottom of the last mentioned cooling water-chamber, and a water supply pipe in communication therewith, the first mentioned pipe having outlet openings for the water supplied thereto,'-a nipple extending upwardly from the said continuous pipe, and a-removableclo'sure fitted into the upper end of the nipp'le where by the said pipe mayibeflus'hed upon removal o fthe said closure. 7

5. In a still, a condensercomprising alhol low upwardly tapering condensing chamber openat-itsbottom, a seoon'dcondensmg chamber surrounding and enclosing the firstunem- *tioned chamber and 'likewise-openat its'bottom, a cooling water chamber enclosing'the -'condensing chambers, means: for supplying water to the "cooling water ol'iambeniind 'a receiver beneath the condenser comprising a shell open at its top and in communication with the space below the open bottoms of the condensing chambers, a receiving pan within the shell of the receiver inclined downwardly toward its center, an outlet pipe leadin from the low point of the pan through the shell of the receiver, a plurality of steam tubes upstanding from the pan and opening at their lower ends through the pan and arranged in a series beneath the open bottom of the second-mentioned condensing chamber, and a plurality of steam tubes upon the pan opening at their lower ends through the said pan and located beneath the open bottom of the first-mentioned condensing chamber. v p

6. A still condenser comprising an upwardly tapered condensing chamber open at its bottom, a second condensing chamber surrounding the first mentioned chamber and likewise open at its bottom, the lower portion of the wall of the first mentionedcondensing chamber being united to the lower portion of the inner wall of the second mentioned condensing chamber, whereby to pro vide, between the chambers, a cooling water [chamber closed at its bottom and open at its top, and means for efiecting circulation of water in the cooling water chamber in an upward direction over the surface of the wall of the condensing chamber, SZIlClHlQZllS comprising acirculating chamber surround- A vide, between the chambers, a cooling water chamber closed at its bottom and open at its top, means for supplying cooling water to the said cooling water chamber, means for eifecting circulation of the water in an upward direction over the surface of the wall of the condensing chamber, said means comprising a circulating chamber surrounding the upper portion of the condensing chamber and having water inlet openings near its bottom, and overflow pipes having their intake endsin communication with the said circulating chambers.

8. A still condenser comprising an upwardly tapered condensing chamberopen at its bottom, a second condensing chamber surrounding the firstmentioned chamber and likewise open at its bottom, the lower portion of the wall of the first mentioned condensing chamber being united to the lower portion of the inner wall of the second mentioned condensing chamber whereby to provide, between the chambers, a cooling water chamber closed at itsbottom and open at its top, means for supplying cooling water to the said cooling water chamber, means for effecting circulation of the water in an upward direction over the surface of the wall of the condensing chamber, said means comprising a circulating. chamber surrounding.

the upper portion-of the condensing chamber and having water inlet openings near its bottom, overflow pipes having their intake ends in communication with the said circulating chamber and air vent tubes leading upwardly from the closed top of the second mentioned condensing chamber.

9. A still condenser comprising an upwardly tapered condensing chamber open at its bottom, a second condensing chamber surroundingthe first mentioned chamber and likewise open at its bottom, the lower portion of the wall of the first mentioned condensingchamber being united to the lower portion of the inner wall ofthe second mentioned condensing chamber whereby to provide, between the chambers, a cooling water chamber closed at its bottom and open at "its top, a cooling water chamber surrounding the second mentioned condensing chamber, means'for supplying water to the last mentioned cooling water chamber wherebyvto overflow into the first mentioned" water chamber, and means for effecting circulation of the water inan upward direction over I the surface of the wall of the first mentioned condensing chamber, the said means comprising a cylindrical circulating chamber surrounding the upper portion of the firstmentioned condensing chamberand having water inlet openings near its bottom, and an overflow pipe incommunication at'itsintakeend with the upper portion of the circulating chamber. 7

In testimony whereof I afl ix my signature.

ERNON vQ OLIVER. s 

